What does "defendant" mean?

1. (the accused person) the person in a court case who is accused of doing something wrong or illegal.

How do you use "defendant"?

In criminal law, the term is used for the person charged; in civil law, it refers to the person being sued.

defendant

US //dɪˈfɛndənt// UK //dɪfˈɛndənt// de·fen·dant

1 the accused person (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

the person in a court case who is accused of doing something wrong or illegal.

the individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law. In criminal cases, this is the person charged with an offence; in civil cases, it is the party responding to a complaint.

Example

The defendant stood up when the judge entered the courtroom.

Example

The defendant maintained his innocence throughout the trial, despite the mounting evidence presented by the prosecution.

Usage

In criminal law, the term is used for the person charged; in civil law, it refers to the person being sued.

Teacher's tip

Learners should distinguish this from 'plaintiff' (the person who starts the case) and 'suspect' (the person the police think did it before the trial starts).
- the accused
- litigant
- respondent

Etymology 1

From Middle English defendaunt (“defending; defending in a suit”), borrowed from Old French defendant, present participle of defendre, from Latin dēfendere.

Etymology 2

From Middle English defendaunt (“defendant in a suit; defender”), borrowed from Old French defendant, nominalisation of defendant; see above.